Fears over expulsion of two Indian journalists

PAKISTAN: The expulsion of two Indian journalists might lead
to the destabilisation of the region

Two Indian
journalists have been ordered to leave country no later than
May 20 without being given any reason for the non-renewal of
their visas. It is claimed in certain government circles
that the decision was made by the military establishment.
The Daily News International, quoting some close aides of
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said that though they (the
government) tried to ensure that these two journalists would
be granted visas but it was completely out of their hands
as, "decisions were being taken elsewhere".

The two
journalists, Mr. Snehesh Alex Philip of the Press Trust of
India (PTI) and Ms. Meena Menon of The Hindu newspaper, were
told by the External Publicity (EP) wing of the Federal
Ministry of Information on the evening of May 13 to pack up
and leave the country by May 20. They received this
information in the form of correspondence delivered in an
official brown envelop which informed them that their visas
would not be renewed.

It looks very much as if the
decision was made in haste and the journalists were told to
leave the country on May 20. However, there are no flights
from Pakistan to India before May 21.

Comments from
political circles appear to agree that the decision from
some quarters not to renew their visas has come at a time
when the Indian communal political party, the BJP, is to
form its government and it is felt that the party is very
much against Pakistan. There is no doubt that hawks from
both sides will enjoy the extremism and the promotion of
fundamentalism.

The Interior Ministry commented that visas
for media people are made on the recommendation of External
Publicity. However, the ministers in their private
conversations with media personnel said that the decision
was not taken by the government but rather by the 'secret
government organisation'.

The ministers of the Nawaz
Sharif government had no prior knowledge about the decision
and expressed their apologies about the reasons behind the
decisions. The Daily Dawn said that that the government is
aware of the shabby manner in which the matter has been
handled and it is evident from the fact that no one is
willing to talk about the issue or accept responsibility.
Talking to the Daily Dawn, the concerned official in the EP
wing said that, "they were on a facilitation desk" and that
the decision about the visas had been made by the Interior
Ministry.

The Daily News said that some close aides of
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told The News that, though they
tried to ensure that these two journalists were granted
visas, it was completely out of their hands as decisions
were being taken elsewhere. However, no one would was
prepared to go on record and make this statement. It is no
secret that visa matters for foreigners are handled by the
security establishment.

There is a written agreement
between the Pakistani and Indian governments where a
reciprocal arrangement allows two correspondents from each
country to be stationed in the other's capital. However, for
several years now, no Pakistani journalist has requested a
visa to be posted in India.

The order to leave Pakistan
has come at a time when there is visible rift between the
government of Nawaz Sharif and the military on the issue of
bettering relationships with India and to declare it as a
favoured country. Nawaz Sharif has committed on many
occasions to not only expand trade relations with India but
also ease the travel restrictions and improve the overall
level of inter-state ties.

According to one report
published in a Pakistani newspaper today, "no reason was
given for this decision".

This is not the first time that
an invisible party in the government has taken action to
sour relationships between Pakistan and India at a time when
bilateral relationships are improving. It can only be
assumed that they consider the improved relationship a
threat to their existence. It is interesting to note that
the annual budget is being prepared and these issues always
'appear' to raise their heads around this time so that the
armed forces are granted more allocations.

The Asian Human
Rights Commission urges the government to immediately review
its decision for the non-renewal of the visas for these two
Indian journalists. The government's decision to do so will
also improve the fragile relations between the two nuclear
states at a time when any possible improvement will only be
to Pakistan's benefit.

Such decisions based on unilateral
actions will not only have a negative effect on the
bi-lateral relationship between Pakistan and India but will
also lead to the possibility of warmongering by the hawks of
both countries. The government must take the situation in
hand and show restraint on such sensitive issues which might
bring two nuclear states closer to destabilising the entire
region.

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